When it’s Tough On You: Vakarchuk dedicated his song to Crimean Tatars

During the concert Ocean Isn’t Silent at the National Complex Ukraine’s Expocenter, Svyatoslav Vakarchuk dedicated a song to the Crimean Tatars on May 26, 2019.

Before singing, Okean Elzy’s frontman told the audience about the exhibition dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the genocide of Crimean Tatars by the Stalinist regime Stolen Crimea: History of Deportation, which he himself visited on the last day of exposure.

«Our fates, both Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars, are very similar. They always wanted us to enframe and throughout history not to let us be ourselves. There is a very huge respect for the whole people deported to Central Asia, but they returned to their homeland and they continue to cherish own culture. Today, unfortunately, we again see history repeating itself in the Russian-annexed Crimea. I want to sincerely wish both Crimean Tatars and Ukrainians endurance and go strong, because together we will definitely win, we will return to our native land and together we will build a beautiful country,» said Svyatoslav Vakarchuk.

Afterwards he dedicated a song to Crimean Tatars’ struggling for their independence.

«This song is dedicated to the struggle for a common family and a large country where Crimean Tatars, Ukrainians and other nations live. And we can never be overcome,» said Vakarchuk and sang the song Koly Tobi Vazhko (When it’s Tough On You).